Carver: A life in Poems - Poetry Chapter Book

Nelson, M. 2001) Carver: A life in Poems. Library of Congress Cataloging: New York.

This is a a biography written in a series of poems from the point of view of people that had experiences with George W. Carvery throughout his life.  If helps to chronicle a bit of American history as it travels through slavery, segregation, the depression and WWI.  Carver was born from a slave mother but was raised by his white owners as their own when his mother was kidnapped.  It is those "adoptive" parents who set him free to pursue his education and his passions in life.  He eventually got his master's degree and was a professor in agriculture.  The amount of research he did into the uses of peanut is incredible - my kind of man!  I love peanuts.

Poetry chapter book (but also a biography).   Grades 6+.

This book is significant in the study of slavery because it gives hope to slaves that there is a future.  Carver suffered a lot and was faced with many barriers and hatred.  He crossed racial barriers and was in love with a white woman who committed suicide.  He was also discriminated by his colleagues and fellow African Americans because he spoke "like a white person" and had an advanced degree and wore "white people clothes."

This book would lend itself to reading talk.  There is a lot that needs to be inferred and connected from one poem to the next in this book and it would help students to be able to put the pieces of Carver's life together if the students could talk about it.  Poetry also is a great resource for reader response.  There is meaning that can get made from each of these poems although the meaning has a purpose from the author, the reader does not need to create that purpose.